Adjustable hinge



Jan. 1, 1952 G. w. HOULSBY, JR 2,581,104

. ADJUSTABLE HINGE Filed April 20-, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Jan. 2 G. w. HOULSBY, JR 2,581,104

ADJUSTABLE HINGE Filed-April 20, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 INVENTOR. eqlyewlhzzlsby dn Y .J/M now/4624524558,

Patented Jan. 1, 1952 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE Claims. (01. 16 429) This invention relates to improvements in swinging door supports.

One object of the invention is to provide improved pivotable supports for swinging doors that admit of adjustment for alignment purposes, such as alignment of the axes of the pivots of the supports or hinges or alignment of the door with respect to the frame of the door. opening.

Another object of the invention is to provide a door support comprising an arm of two parts which are adjustable one relative tothe other for alignment purposes and which are provided with interlocking means which cooperate to prevent relative longitudinal and transverse'movement of the parts after re-adjustment and securement of the parts together.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a door support having an arm of two parts or sections provided with interengaging means which permit relative longitudinal and transverse adjustment of the parts in definite increments for varying the locationof the supported door with respect to the door opening or for re-aligning the pivotal axis of a support at one end of the door with respect to the axis of a support at the other end of the door.

Other objects of the invention relate to various features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification and accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a door pro vided with hinges or door supports which are illustrative of the present improvements;

Fig. 2 is a broken elevational view of the left hand door shown in Fig. 1 illustrating the door supports in enlarged detail;

Fig. 3 is a view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of an upper hinge mounting means shown in Fig. 2; v

Fig. 5 is a view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a view taken on the same plane as Fig. 5 but looking in the direction of arrows 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line I'! of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a sectional View taken on line 8--8 of Fig. 6; r

Fig. 9 is asectional view taken on line 9-4) of Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on line lib-Ill of Fig. 11; and

r Fig. 11 is a view taken on line I I-II of Fig. 10. I

InFig. 1 of thedrawings, a door I D is shown which may be one of a pair of double doors, as illustrated, or a single door swinging in one direction with respectto a door opening. The door is hinged or pivotally supported by means at or adjacent the upper and lower ends of one side edge of the door. In the drawing, the door supporting means at the lower end is of the door closing type although door supporting means such as is shown at the upper end of the door may likewise be employed at the lower end of the door within the scope of the present invention.

The supporting means shownat the upper end of the door comprises a plate II which, as shown in Fig. 2, is provided with an integral oifset portion carrying a boss Ila which provides a support for a pivot pin I2. The plate II is adapted to be, secured to the upper horizontal member or style of the door frame or the adjacent supporting structure. Generally plate I I is located within a channel or groove provided in the structure as shown in Fig. 2. The boss H extends to the side of the plane of the door toward which the door swings when opened, as shown in Fig. 1. Cooperating with the plate H a somewhat similar support is provided comprising a plate I3 having a laterally disposed boss or journal member I4 for receiving the pin I2. The pin is generally secured against displacement from boss M by a screw I5. Supporting members comprising the plates'referred to above and provided withjthe journals for the pivot pins are well known and generally the plate that is secured to the door, corresponding to plate It, is secured within a channel provided in the upper end of the door and secured to the door by screws. In accordance with the present invenplate I3 is not secured directly to the door structure but is, 'on the contrary, secured to a plate It which in turn is secured to the door structure by means of screws IT. A channel is provided in the top edge of the door for receiving the plates I3 and I6 for concealing the same and permitting the upper edge of the door tobe fitted closely to the adjacent horizontal edge of the door frame. plate I3 is anchored to the plate I 6, in accordance with the present invention, by means of screws I8, two of which'are shown in Fig. 2. The screws I8 extend through counterbored openings I9 inthe plate I3 and are of less diameter than the diameter of the openings whereby the plate 13 can be adjusted longitudinally and transversely with respect to the plate [6 when the screws are loosened, the channel in the upper edge of the door being of adequate dimensions to permit such relative movements.

As shown in Figs. to 9, the plates i3 and it are provided with cooperable banks or groups of serrations arranged for interfitting engagement for preventing mis-adjustment of one plate with respect to the other after the screws 13 have been properly tightened. In Fig. 5, the plate I3 is shown with a bank of longitudinal serrations and a bank of transverse serrations 2]. In Fig. 6 plate I6 is shown with a bank of longitudinal serrations 22 and a bank of transverse serration 23, the latter two banks being shown as of less area relative to the corresponding banks of serrations of the plate l3.

Referring to Figs. 6 and '7, it will be seen that the serrations of the plate l3 do not protrude beyond the plane of the plate in which the serrations are formed. The serrations of the plate l6, however, do protrude above the plane of a face in which the serrations are formed. This may be effected by grinding or otherwise removing the unserrated portions of the surface of the plate l6. Viewing Figs. 7 and 8, it will be seen that the two plates l3 and 16 will lie in face-to-face contact due to the fact that the serrations of the plates wil1 intermesh, as shown in Fig. 9. It will be seen that it is possible to adjust the plate 13 relative to plate l6 when the screws (8 have been loosened, for shifting the plate l3 1ongitudinally or transversely. The serrations are preferably quite fine and thus permit adjustment of one plate with reference to the other by relatively small but definite increments when desired. The maximum distance for adjustment of one plate with respect to the other is controlled by the relative diameter of the shanks of the screws 18 with reference to the openings i9 in plate 13 through which the screws extend. The areas of the banks of serrations 20 and 2| are sufficient to provide for the described meshing relation with the serrations of plate It in all positions of relative adjustment. When the screws l8 have been tightened after adjustment, the interengagement of the serrated sections of the plates prevent slippage of one plate with respect to the other under weight of the supported door.

By effecting adjustment of the plate l3 with reference to the plate I5, the door will be shifted in the opposite direction or directions whereby the door can be aligned properly with respect to the door opening. Where door supports, as de scribed above, are used at the upper 'end of the door, the adjustment can be effected without removing the door from the supports since by swinging the door open the screws i8 are accessible at the upper edge of the door.

For the purpose of enabling the pivot pin of the hinge structure at the top of the door to be adjusted for alignment purposes with respect to a lower pivot pin, the above described upper hinge structure may be modified as shown in Fig. 4. In the structure shown in Fig. 4, the hinge plate is provided with two banks of serrations corresponding respectively to the banks of serrations 2D and 21 of plate l3 as shown in Fig. 5. In conjunction with plate 25, an anchor plate 28 is employed having banks of serrations corresponding respectively with serrations 22 and 23 of plate [6 as shown in Fig. 6. The anchor plate 28 is secured in position in the frame structure by screws with the serrations disposed at the lower surface of the plate, and hinge plate 25 is secured to the anchor plate by means of screws 31 that extend through counterbored openings 32 provided in plate 25 of a diameter greater than the diameter of the screws to enable the plate 25 to be shifted or adjusted longitudinally and transversely with respect to the anchor plate and thus shifting the axis of the pivot pin 33 correspondingly.

The plates l3 and it of Fig. 4 may correspond to plates l3 and it of Fig. 2, the four plates constituting the hinge structure. The modified structure enables the axis of the pin to be shifted as stated above, but likewise enables the plate l3 to be shifted independently of plate 25 and hence to change the position of the door with respect to the door opening.

In the modified structure shown in Fig. 4, the adjustments of the plates [3 and 25 can be effected without removing the door from the hinge mountings since the adjusting screws of the respective plates are accessible when the door is open.

Door supports, such as has been described above, may be employed not only at the upper ends of the door but at the lower ends as well. However, in the drawings, the door H! is shown provided with a door closing mechanism con stituting the lower hinge support which, per as, does not form a part of the present invention. The closing mechanism tends to close the door automatically with a controlled movement as is well understood. The door closing mechanism referred to is adapted to be located within a, cement casing indicated generally by the numeral 34 in Fig. 1, the casing being mounted in cement or concrete in the floor structure. The door closing mechanism comprises a pin 35 which is turned by the door when the door is swung to open position for storing up energy in a spring structure, forming a part of the door closure mechanism, for returning the door to closed position when released.

The pin 35 generally is operatively attached to the door by means of a lever having a head which is clamped to the pin and having an arm which extends within a channel formed in the lower edge of the door and secured thereto by screws. In Figs. 10 and 11, the principle of t e above-described adjusting means is shown ap plied to the door closing lever above referred to. Referring to Fig. 10, a plate 36 is shown secured by screws 31 within a channel provided in the lower edge of the door III. The door I!) is repre---- sented as a metal door and hence the screws 31 are machine screws. The plate 36 is provided with a bank of transverse serrations 38 and a bank of longitudinal serrations 39 which may correspond to the serrations 22 and 23, respectively. of Fig. 6 in thatthey protrude beyond the plane of the plate 36. A plate or arm 40 is provided for cooperation with the plate 36 for adjustment purposes and is provided with a bank of longitudinal serrations 42 and a bank of transverse serrations 43 for cooperation with the serrations 38 and 39,. respectively. The plate 40 is adapted to be an-r chored to the plate 36 by means of screws 44, the screws extending through counterbored openings 45 in the plate 40 of greater diameter than the corresponding portions of the screws whereby when the screws are loosened, the plate 49 can be: adjusted longitudinally and transversely with re-- spect to the plate 36 whereupon i e-tightenin the screws 44 will retain plates 36 and 40 against relative movement due to the intermeshingoi the respective banks of serrations. The arm or anchor plate 4B is provided with a clamp head M which extends laterally from the door and engages the upper end of the pin 35, the latter being shown as having flattened sides to enable the clamp to grip the pin against relative movement.

Normally, the axis of the pin should be in vertical alignment with the axis of the pin 12 of Fig. 1 or pin 33 of Fig. 4, but in locating the cement casing 34 in the floor structure, it is not possible for the workmen always to locate it in precisely the correct position to efiect such alignment of the pins mentioned. Hence the adjust-.- ability of the plate or arm with respect to the plate 36 is desirable since the plate 40 can, by the means: mentioned, be adjusted longitudinally or transversely to adjust the door to compensate for small mis-locations of the cement casing 34 and of the door closing mechanism including the pin 35 supported by the casing. The present improvements enable a door not only to be aligned properly initially when the door is hung but to make adjustments for re-aligning the door after Pe od o us Wher m a i me occur by reason of wear or from ehanges in the building structure, for example- W i e h upper hinge structure shown in Fig. 2 comprises a stationary hinge member H secured to the adjacent frame of the door opening and the adjustable hinge member 13 attached to the anchor plate Hi, the reverse arrangement may be employed, if desired, that is, an anchor plate and adjustable hinge members may be attached to the door frame structure while the non-adjustable hinge member is secured to the door. Such arrangement permits the pivotal axis of the pivot pin or pintle to be shifted, as in the structure shown in Fig. 4, but with an accompanying re-adjustment of the door. Hence where it is desirable to make provision for adjustment of the door without change in the axial position of the upper pivot pin, as well as for realignment of the pivot pin, the structure shown in Fig. 4 is preferred.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 11 of the drawings, the clamp head that engages the door closer operating pin is shown provided with a conventional cover or cap 46.

While I have shown and described structures which are illustrative of the present improvements, it will be apparent that variations may be made therein without departure from the spirit of the invention defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A hinge for a door comprising a pair of hinge members, means comprising a pintle pivotally connecting said members, a pair of mounting plates one adapted to be secured to an end portion of a door and the other to the adjacent portion of a building structure, means comprising screws and threaded openings in the plates for receiving the screws and openings in the hinge members of greater diameter than the shanks of the screws for securing each of said hinge members in face-to-face contact with one of said plates whereby relative longitudinal and transverse adjustment of the hinge members can be effected with respect to each of the plates when the respective screws are loosened, and a bank of longitudinal and a bank of transverse serrations on each of the contacting faces of the plates and hinge members, the longitudinal banks being arranged for mutual meshing en-.

gagement and the transverse banks being. arranged for mutual meshing engagement when the plate and hinge member are in face to face contact and adapted to be held in such meshing engagement for restraining respectively trans verse and longitudinal displacement of the hinge members relative to the respective plates when the screws are tightened.

2. In a door hinge structure, a plate adapted to be secured to an end of a door and provided with threaded screw receiving openings, a hinge member adapted to .be secured to said plate in iace-to-face contact, said member being provided with screw receiving openings, means can prising screws having shanks of smaller diameter than the openings of said member and extending through the same into threaded engagement with the apertures of said plate for securing said hinge member to the plate whereby limited relative adjustment of the hinge member can be efiected longitudinally and transversely when said screws are loosened, and banks of longitudinal and transverse serrations on the contacting faces of the hinge member and plate, said longitudinal banks of serrations being arranged for mutual meshing engagement and said transverse banks of serrations being arranged for mutual meshing engagement when the plate and hinge member are in face to face contact and said banks of the hinge member and plate being held in such meshing relation for restraining transverse and longitudinal displacement of the hinge member with respect to the plate when the screws are tightened.

3. A hinge structure for a door comprising a hinge member adapted to be secured to an adjacent door supporting structure, a second hinge member, a pintle pivotally connecting said hinge members together, an anchor plate adapted to be secured to the door, and releasable clamping means for securing the second hinge member to the anchor plate in face-to-face contact, said means comprising threaded openings in the anchor plate and enlarged registering openings in the second hinge member and screws of smaller diameter than said enlarged openings extending through the latter into engagement with the openings in the plate whereby relative adjustment of the member and plate in longitudinal and transverse directions can be effected when said screws are released, said second hinge member and the anchor plate being provided each with banks of longitudinal and transverse serrations, the banks of serrations of the plate being adapted for meshing engagement with the corresponding banks of serrations of the second hinge member when said anchor plate and second hinge member are clamped in face-to-face contact for restraining relative movement of the second hinge member in longitudinal and transverse directions with respect to the anchor plate.

4. In a hinge structure for a door, a hinge member swingable about the hinge axis, said member being provided with screw-receiving apertures therethrough, an anchor plate adapted for attachment to a door and provided with threaded screw-receiving holes spaced apart in correspondence with the spacing of said apertures, screws extending through said apertures into threaded engagement within said holes for securing the hinge member in face-to-face contact with said plate when the screws are tightened, the diameter of the apertures being greater than the diameter of the screws whereby said hing member can be adjusted longitudinally and transversely relative to theplate'when the screws are loosened, and banks of longitudinal and; transverse serrations on the said faces of'the hinge member and the plate, each bank of serrations of the hinge member being arrangedfor meshing engagement with the corresponding bank of serrations of the plate for preventing movement of the hinge member relative to the plate when the screws are tightened and facilitating adjustment of the hinge member relative to the plate in both longitudinal and transverse directions when the screws are loosened by definite increments corresponding to the width of the serrations and through a range corresponding to the difference between the diameter of the apertures and the diameter of the screws.

5. A hinge structure for a door comprising a first hinge member adapted to be attached to the door and a second hinge member adapted to be' attached to an adjacent portion of a door supporting frame, a pivot hingedly connecting said members, an anchor plate for said first hinge member adapted to be secured to the door, the said first hinge member being provided with screw-receiving apertures, and screws ofsmaller diameter than the apertures extending from the same into said plate for securing said first hinge member to the anchor plate in face to face contact whereby longitudinal and transverse adjust- 8" ment of said first hinge niemberwith respect to' the anchor plate can be efiected when the screws are loosened, said first hinge member and plate being provided each with banks of longitudinal and transverse serrations, the banks of serratlons of said first hinge member each being adapted for meshing engagement with the corresponding banks of serrations of the plate when said first hinge member and plate are in said face to face contact for resisting relative movement of said first hinge member with respect to the plate when the screws are tightened and facilitating the relative adjustment of said first hinge member relative to the plate by definite increments corresponding to the transverse dimensions of the serrations when the screws are loosened.

GEORGE W. HOULSBY, J a.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

- UNITED STATES PATENTS 

